Slab Edge Hidden Lines Display

Back in February/March 2008, during our Revit Structure 2008 Beta testing period, there was a discussion among our Beta testers (from different countries) about the slab edge hidden line display. In fact, the standard or culture of displaying slab edge hidden lines on plan could be different from country to country.

For example, many USA companies have a standard to show the inside (or bearing) line to be displayed for slab edges.

However, some other countries users have also told us that their standard is to display both/all lines which is:

 

I would like to share a technique with you in Revit Structure 2009 of which one of our QA expert Joe Charpentier has explained in the Beta discussion forum an option, to be invoked via the Revit.ini file, that can change the display of hidden lines. Quote:

"By default, the inside (or bearing) line will be displayed for slab edges.

In the official release of Revit Structure 2009, we are providing an option, to be invoked via the Revit.ini file (typically located at C:\Program Files\Revit Structure 2009\Program), that can change the display of hidden lines.  This is similar in behavior to the "Show hidden lines" options for beam families.

Add the following section heading and variable names to the Revit.ini file, if it doesn't exist already:

[Graphics]
HiddenSlabEdge=All

Possible values for HiddenSlabEdge variable:
"All"  - Show all lines from a slab edge
"Itself"  - New default behavior, the "Bearing" or lower edges
"Other" - The edge intersecting with the slab, (Beta 1 and 2 Behavior)
"None" - Show no hidden lines for Slab edges (r2008 behavior)

Note that this is not set for the project, but for the session of Revit.  That is, if you open a file with a certain variable setting, that will not prevent the project from being displayed differently if opened in a different install with a different setting."

Thanks

Wai

Comments

[Alan Wooldridge]

There should also be 45 degree lines in the corners between the two dotted lines because there is a change in direction and a edge.

This is basic Technical Drawing as one use to learn in school 1970 -1980's before they stopped teaching TD

In the UK and from my CAD people I would expect to see these lines as well unless the step was and 90 degrees and not 45

As BIM is 3D these should appear automatically and not need to be added after

[Wai]

Hi Alan,

Sorry my screen capture has error. In fact, I just retest it and it does show the 45 degress line as well when i set the:

[Graphics]
HiddenSlabEdge=All

You can do a quick test and you will see.

I also update the correct image.

Thanks

Wai

[chris]

we have tried this method every way imaginable using Revit 2009 and yet it does not seem to work. Has anyone gotten this to work or is there a trick i need to be aware of?

[Ben]

I just tried this out. For some reason the slab edge displays the lower "bearing" line and the diagonal when I choose "Itself". In the first image above the diagonals aren't visible.

Is there any way to make the diagonal not visible?

[Rodrigo of Chile]

elevation two side Edge Hidden Lines Display

[guild wars 2 gold]

There should also be 45 degree lines in the corners between the two dotted lines because there is a change in direction and a edge.

This is basic Technical Drawing as one use to learn in school 1970 -1980's before they stopped teaching TD we have tried this method every way imaginable using Revit 2009 and yet it does not seem to work.

[Belstaff leather]

well this blog is great i love reading your articles.